* I am on vacation and Emma contacted me about posting this article she wrote for military members searching for jobs. Thanks for writing Emma!

Four Myths About Finding a Job After Military Service

Myth #1: Asking for a referral from someone is annoying and time-consuming.

Truth: Asking for help from friends and former coworkers shows that you respect their opinion of you. If you’re a hard worker and your friends know it, then they’ll be glad to write you a referral. While traditional means of getting a referral, such as letters and phone calls still apply, there are some new and unique options available. Many employers have started to partner with mobile recruiting companies like JIBE, which make it easy to request recommendations from people already working in the company using social media sites. In a world of smartphones and accelerated technology, referrals have never been easier to get.

Myth #2: After leaving the military, I won’t be able to find a civilian job service to help with my transition.

Truth: Prior to the Vietnam era, veterans were expected to return to civilian life and get jobs without the aid of professional organizations. This was a mistake that has since been rectified. Many organizations now exist to help make the transition from the military to civilian jobs. Hire Heroes USA, comprised of military veterans in various capacities, works to help veterans and their spouses make the big leap from military career to civilian occupations. If you join this organization, you’ll gain access to a plethora of tools to help you find a job and network with other veterans in similar positions. Hire Heroes is not alone. Check with your local Veterans Affairs commission to see if local chapters exist for this service; chances are, you’re not alone in the transition phase.

Myth #3: It’s too difficult to change careers.

Truth: People change their minds all the time about things as simple as toothpaste brands to complex decisions like career paths. Changing careers 5, 10 or even 20 years into your job might sound impossible, but it happens all the time due to a variety of factors. With new technology and advanced resources, people now can get certified in a wide array of subjects and skills that were previously unavailable. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been doing your current job, if you want to pursue another passion get out there are do it! Sometimes, the biggest obstacle to pursuing your dream is your own doubt about whether you qualify for a new job. The fact is that if you’ve been working at all, you have transferable skills that a company will find useful. For instance, if you’ve been working as a desk clerk and suddenly want to teach art classes at a community center, then you might not think you have what it takes. But keeping detailed records, meeting with a diverse range of people and organization skills transfer readily into work with the general public. No matter what you want to do, you can do it if you put forth the effort to start anew.

Myth #4: As a veteran, I won’t be able to compete because companies aren’t looking specifically for veteran applicants.

Truth: With the world increasingly dependent upon technology, science and math, military veterans actually have the upper hand when it comes to certain private sector jobs. Many engineering, nuclear and similar companies value veterans with technical backgrounds for their extensive training and on-the-job experience. Veterans preference isn’t just for the tech-savvy, though. As a member of the armed forces, you gained valuable experiences and know proper discipline, which many companies value in employees. Even better, some companies are offered incentives for hiring veterans. To learn more about these programs and find out which companies specifically hire veterans, check out Veteran Job Listings, a website dedicated to helping veterans connect with the companies searching for them.

Bio: Emma is a mid 20-something year old with a passion for life, love, fitness, and helping others. She loves to be active and get involved in as many sport and community activities as possible. Emma is currently studying to become a Career & Life Coach, and loves to network with people from around the world! Check out Emma’s blog at http://smileasithappens.blogspot.com/!

Feel free to email me at marthabmetz@gmail.com

Vote daily!

Who am I?

My name is Martha. Welcome!
If we are who we love; I love Jesus, my husband, my Bud and Bennett Rippy, my dog, candy, and laughing.
On any given day, I'll be the one wearing cowboy boots, mismatched socks, asking you "Whats your story?!" and singing songs with kids.
We are southerners living on the west coast as my husband serves in the Army.
I love hearing from you so drop me a comment or email!
Thanks for visiting!